[Narrator] They are independent of the mainland.

Free in geography and in thinking.

They are countries that share no borders but have extensive ties with the global community.

They are islands that have gone it alone.

Self sufficient and self-reliant.

One forms the heart of an empire, another the bedrock of a continent.

Some are rooted in ancient history, while others are only just beginning to realize their full potential.

These are the world's greatest island nations.

(dramatic music) Separated by the English Channel but closely tied to mainland Europe, Great Britain is an island nation that's consistently punched well above its weight on the world stage.

Although it's slightly smaller than the American state of Texas, Britain is the largest and most populous island in Europe, collectively made up of the kingdoms of England, Wales, and Scotland.

Today, it stands as one of the world's wealthiest nations and its capital London is considered one of the truly great global cities.

Continuing its traditional role as a leader in international, social, financial, and political affairs.

It's become a cultural icon.

London's red buses, black cabs, and landmarks have become instantly recognizable the world over.

Outside the cities, the British landscape is characterized by sprawling rural areas, timeless villages, and stunning natural beauty.

The many castles and ruins scattered throughout the island whisper the stories of ancient civilizations now all but shrouded by the veil of time.

Britain's history is a long and eventful one, defined by great battles won and lost and ventures of vast exploration and conquest culminating in the rise of the largest empire the world has ever known.

At its height, it was known as the empire on which the sun never sets, because the sun was always shining in at least one of its far-flung territories.

Britain was not always an island.

Before the last ice age, it was part of mainland Europe.

But as the ice eventually melted and sea waters rose, the connecting land bridge was flooded, setting the isle adrift upon the North Sea.

But it was not isolated for long.

Farming peoples soon made the sea voyage from Europe to establish new colonies with belief systems shrouded in mystery.

Stonehenge is thought to have been constructed between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago.

It's one of the world's most well-known prehistoric landmarks, but there's still much we don't know about its origins or original purpose.

Today, it's widely believed to have been both a place of ritual and a burial site for Britain's early peoples.

But, as they left no written history, the stone circle continues to closely guard the secrets of its past.

The arrival of the Celts around 500 BC brought conflict with the more established Britons, but it was the coming of the Romans around 2,000 years ago that truly introduced change.

Britain existed as part of the Roman empire for almost 400 years, and today evidence of their roads, forts, and buildings can be found across the country.

The town of Bath in England's west preserves an enduring legacy of these times.

The Romans first established spa baths here between 60 and 70 AD, adding to the surrounding complexes over the following 300 years.

The site features several bathhouses and a Roman temple centered around a naturally heated geothermal spring once held sacred by the Celts.

The complex has undergone a number of redevelopments over the centuries and is currently a museum that houses artifacts from the Roman era, which came to an end in the early fifth century.

Following the departure of the Romans, the invading armies of the Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Normans divided Britain before it was eventually unified as a kingdom in the 10th century under the rule of King Edgar the peaceful.

By the late 16th century, the united island nation had spread its wings, establishing trading posts and colonies that spanned the globe.

At its height, in the 18th century, Britain had formed the largest empire in human history, governing nearly one quarter of the world's population.

But by the 20th century, the world had changed, ushering in a new era in which the powerful empire relinquished control of most of its remote territories.

Today, Britain is joined by a group of 53 former colonies known as the Commonwealth nations collectively working together to achieve common goals under the symbolic banner of the reigning British monarch...Queen Elizabeth II.

In modern times, the British royal family plays a largely ceremonial role within the nation and Commonwealth, but they don't sit idle.

Headquartered at Buckingham Palace, the Windsor family tirelessly engages in social and humanitarian affairs and the occasional pomp and pageantry of royal weddings which are viewed by tens of millions around the world.

These days in Britain, when it comes to running the country, the politics is left to politicians.

Westminster is not only the heart of British politics but the birthplace of a democratic system used throughout the Western world.

It was within these halls that Prime Minister Winston Churchill stewarded his nation through one of the most tumultuous times in its long history.

During World War II, Britain was pounded by German bombing campaigns... resulting in enormous loss of life and property.

Although the Allied forces eventually prevailed, in war there are no victors, and Britain, like the rest of the world, took many years to recover.

Over time, old wounds were healed, and by the turn of the 21st century, Britain had joined ranks with former foes in the formation of the European Union, an economic and political integration that encompassed a population of more than half a billion constituents.

But, following a national referendum in 2016, Britain controversially decided to leave the powerful European Union, once again isolating itself from the mainland and the continent's fortunes.

Only time will tell if this move was in Britain's best interest, but if history has shown us anything, it's that this island nation should not be underestimated.

(dramatic music) Indonesia is the world's largest island nation.

It's made up of more than 13,000 islands covering an area of nearly two million square kilometers spanning the Indian and Pacific oceans.

The nation's 260 million citizens are spread out across this vast expanse, but most reside on Indonesia's main island Java.

Roughly the size of New York state, Java supports a whopping 140 million residents, making it the most populous of all the world's islands.

So it's perhaps not surprising that its capital city Jakarta is ranked as the world's second most densely populated area just behind Tokyo.

Jakarta is Indonesia's political, economic, and cultural center.

The comparatively high wages and standards of living here attract people from all over the archipelago...creating a diverse melting pot of communities and cultures.

Today, Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, with more people adhering to the Islamic faith here than anywhere else on Earth.

In Jakarta, the religion permeates all facets of life, adding to the city's colorful and vibrant energy.

The faith was first brought here by Sunni and Sufi traders sometime in the Middle Ages.

Italian explorer Marco Polo is credited with the first reference to an Islamic community here in the late 13th century.

European traders started to frequent the archipelago in the 15th century, and by the early 1600s, the Dutch East India company from the Netherlands had set up a trading port in Java, which at the time, was known as Batavia.

Over the following centuries, Dutch power in the region grew.

To protect the lucrative trade of spices and other commodities, they progressively absorbed much of the surrounding area into their colony until the region as a whole became known as Batavia.

It took the Japanese occupation of the archipelago during the Second World War to bring an end to Dutch rule here.

[Man] The Japanese herded the Dutch into the most squalid of concentration camps... [Narrator] With Indonesia successfully lobbying for independence in the years that followed.

Evidence of the three centuries of Dutch colonialism can still be seen in Jakarta's cityscape today, in its architecture, street life, and infrastructure.

In an attempt to bring a slice of Amsterdam to the Far East, colonialists introduced an extensive network of canals to the city, but they also brought a typically Dutch problem with them.

As sea levels continue to rise, Jakarta has become prone to flooding, and is slowly sinking at a rate of around 17 centimeters a year.

As it continues to expand at a faster pace than regional neighbors like Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Beijing, Jakarta also faces the challenges of overcrowding, poverty, and pollution.

Outside the major cities, the Indonesian hinterland is less chaotic.

Agriculture contributes significantly to the national economy, which is the largest in southeast Asia.

Around one third of the nation's workforce is employed within the agricultural industry, and while modern farming practices are widespread, many choose to cultivate their crops in traditional ways that have changed little over the centuries.

The tourism industry plays a larger part in the economy of Indonesia's smaller islands.

Bali is world famous for its beaches, diving, surfing, and wild nightlife.

Situated in the south of the archipelago, this small island has become increasingly popular with international travelers since the 1980s, and today, tourism accounts for 80% of its economy.

Bali's main destination, Kuta, is awash with narrow alleyways filled with Westerners on mopeds, brash souvenir shops, and hidden bars that spill out onto beaches bustling with action in and out of the water.

Despite the tourists' antics, Bali is an island steeped in tradition and deep reverence.

Balinese Hinduism is the most widely practiced religion on the island.

Its roots stem from a mix of local beliefs and Hindu and Buddhist traditions brought from mainland Asia as early as the first century AD.

Hindu temples and shrines are scattered across the island and religious festivals are a part of everyday life here as they are in other parts of the nation.

On the plains of central Java lies a sprawling complex dedicated to another of the world's faiths.

Borobudur is the world's largest Buddhist temple.

It was built over a thousand years ago by a dynasty adhering to an ancient Indonesian religion that blended ancestor worship with traditional Buddhism.

Having withstood the ravages of the centuries, more than two thousand carved stone reliefs and 500 statues of Buddha continue to decorate this man-made wonder which is visited by more tourists each year than any other site in Indonesia.

On the eastern side of the island, there's another wonder that's commanded awe and respect from the local peoples since the dawn of time.

Mount Bromo is an active volcano that sits in a sprawling plain known as the sea of sand.

It's erupted over 50 times since historical records began in the early 1800s, continually spewing sulfuric gases and ash high into the air.

Known as the Tengger Caldera, the sea of sand in which it sits is actually a sinkhole created by a much larger, but now extinct, super volcano.

It's an otherworldly landscape existing in stark contrast to its otherwise lush surroundings.

Despite the potential dangers it poses, local Indonesians continue to live and work around the volcano, which attracts a steady stream of visitors on a daily basis.

Indonesia is an island nation unlike any other, from its bustling and often overcrowded super cities to lush agricultural regions lost in time to its stunningly beautiful tropical playgrounds.

Every aspect of life here is permeated with a reverent spirituality underpinned by a deep connection to the land and sea.

(dramatic music) Of all the world's island nations, there's one that's considered a modern-day pariah.

Cuba is the largest of the Caribbean islands, sitting just 140 kilometers off the southern coast of the American state of Florida.

For a small nation, it certainly commands a lot of attention, often polarizing opinion.

Revered by some as a vibrant and unique culture lost in time, Cuba is criticized by others as a rogue socialist nation governed by tyrants.

Whatever's said about it, Cuba is anything but dull.

It's the birthplace of exotic dances, a bastion of Latin music, and home to a way of life like no other.

But Cuba is also a nation of paradoxes.

By international standards, it's considered a developing nation struggling to deal with widespread poverty.

But social services here like health and education are amongst the best in the world.

Seemingly at odds with itself, Cuba's unique place in the global community has arisen from its desire to meet the future on its own terms.

Today, Cubans are fiercely independent, but this wasn't always the case.

Their road to freedom was hard fought.

The island was first inhabited by tribal groups who traveled here from the South American mainland around 5,000 years ago.

But when Christopher Columbus claimed Cuba as a Spanish territory in the 15th century, European diseases carried by the invaders wiped out most of the indigenous population, signaling the end of an era and the beginning of another.

Over the following four centuries, the island both prospered and suffered under Spanish rule.

Cuba finally managed to break free from the shackles of foreign rule in the early 20th century, but peace was to be short-lived.

By the 1930s, the great depression had thrown the country into chaos.

Political and economic unrest resulted in decades of social upheaval and violent revolution.

In the late 1950s, Che Guevara and Fidel Castro led a successful revolt against the unpopular dictator Fulgencio Batista.

This resulted in conflict with its powerful northern neighbor, the United States, famously coming to crisis point during the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961, when Castro's forces defeated an American- sponsored coup, and the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, which brought President Kennedy to the brink of a third world war.

Today, the Republic of Cuba is one of the last remaining socialist states adhering to a Marxist-Leninist ideology.

In keeping with these principles, most of the island's infrastructure is state owned and operated and residents are entitled to regular food supplies at a nominal cost.

While life here can be tough, most Cubans own their own home, and pay no property tax or mortgage interest, relieving much of the financial burden experienced in other parts of the world.

Havana, the island nation's capital, seems to have been frozen in time.

Many of the cars here have been meticulously maintained since trade restrictions were imposed in the 1960s.

New vehicles are much harder to come by, so vintage cars rule the streets.

Although an unfortunate reality of life here, it lends a certain nostalgic quality to the city, drawing tourists from all over the world.

But it's not just the hot rods the visitors come for.

Music in Havana is ever present, whether it's simply to entertain friends and family or to drive the unstoppable urge to dance in Latin America's musical heartland.

Cuba is the birthplace of world-renowned music and accompanying dances like the samba, cha cha, and rumba.

For Cubans, this is a national pastime.

The rhythm flows through the streets and into the many clubs and bars that exist for one solitary purpose--to dance the night away.

Although it's said that Ernest Hemingway found another use for them, quietly penning his novels in a discreet corner whilst drinking white rum and smoking one of Cuba's finest cigars.

Export of Cuba's famous tobacco is an important contributor to the national economy.

Many of the island's rural areas have been largely untouched by the ravages of the 20th century and today support sprawling plantations of the leaf famed for its distinctive flavor.

Pinar del Rio is one of the island's and indeed the world's most prominent tobacco growing regions.

The Cuban tradition of hand-rolling cigars has been passed down through the generations and has changed little over the years.

Highly skilled workers compress and mold the filler into shape before binding and sealing it.

The finished inner is then wrapped with a premium five-year-old leaf, giving the cigar its unique and highly coveted taste and aroma.

Cuban cigars are widely regarded as the world's finest.

The island's other natural wonders are not far behind.

Surrounded by the warm waters of the Caribbean, Cuba is a tropical paradise.

Castro once said that tourism would save socialism and with beaches like this, it's easy to see why.

Laws restricting American visitors have recently been relaxed, and the tourism industry is booming.

Perhaps ironically, Cuba operates a dual currency system, trading in pesos for the locals and the more lucrative American dollar for tourists.

Some say that by mending bridges with old foes and forging new ties within the international community, Cuba will soon catch up with the modern world, opening up a new chapter in its long and vibrant story.

But for now, this small island nation continues to live by its own rules, carving out an existence that's as unique as it is proud.

(dramatic music) The island nation of Japan is caught between two worlds.

While its modern face is characterized by high fashion and cutting-edge technology, its ancient heart remains steeped in history and tradition.

Though seemingly at odds with each other, it's these polarizing traits that make Japan both exquisitely unique and endlessly intriguing.

Japan is made up of an archipelago consisting of over 6000 islands, but the vast majority of its residents live on the four largest, known as the home islands.

The nation's capital, Tokyo is situated on the main island Honshu, home to almost 40 million people.

Its sprawling metropolitan area is the most densely populated on Earth.

But, thanks to Japan's unerring sense of discipline, there's a predictable pulse to the city, creating order amidst the chaos.

Even the daunting Shibuya crossing in the heart of downtown Tokyo runs like clockwork.

At peak times, when the lights change color, up to a thousand people move seamlessly across the intersection, as the heaving mass of humanity takes on a life of its own... just as the fashion has done here.

The surrounding area of Harajuku is known for its eccentric youth culture and trends.

It seems nothing here is too cutting edge or taboo as teenagers throw off the shackles of their conservative forebears to wear their heart on their sleeve.

But it's not just the locals scrambling for the limelight here.

Tokyo is also one of the world's most affluent cities.

Home to more than its fair share of Fortune 500 companies and multinational corporations, it attracts traveling businessmen from all over the globe.

In true Japanese style, the challenge of housing this steady stream of visitors is managed with creative flair.

Capsule hotels capitalize on limited space, offering modest lodgings at an affordable price.

They may only be the size of a coffin, but they come complete with many modern creature comforts, often including vending machines that offer anything from sake to neck ties to canned bread.

Today, global financial markets and high-tech industries drive Japan's economy, but this ancient nation hasn't always lived on the cutting edge.

Historically, Japan has been stewarded in a more conservative direction, adhering to strict social codes and customs.

In the Nara Valley, five hours south of Tokyo, life is decidedly more serene.

This region is the ancestral home of the nation's emperors, the origin of its written language, and the birthplace of its Shinto spirituality.

Linking them all--Japan's oldest trade route, the Yamanobe Road.

In the seventh century, this ancient thoroughfare played an important role in establishing Japanese civilization.

Each year in springtime, amidst the explosion of cherry blossoms, the trail still attracts thousands of Japanese pilgrims attempting to reconnect with their proud heritage.

For those less inclined to leave the beaten path in search of cultural gratification, Japan offers glimpses of its history closer to the city.

Established in the eighth century, Kyoto served as Japan's imperial capital for more than a thousand years.

It hails from a time in which powerful Buddhist clergy influenced imperial governments and where traditional values were upheld with the utmost reverence.

Although damaged by fire, war, and earthquakes over its lifetime, Kyoto has managed to preserve many of its historic charms.

The ancient city plays host to a wealth of palaces, temples, gardens, and sacred shrines.

It's also home to a tradition that dates back 400 years.

The geisha originated as high-class entertainers.

More than courtesans, they were strictly versed in the arts of dancing, singing, poetry, and conversation.

The profession continues to this day, although working geisha are rarely seen outside of tea house districts.

While Japan has its fair share of celebrated icons, its most emblematic symbol is surely this one--Mt.

Fuji.

Standing at nearly 4,000 meters above sea level, Mt.

Fuji is Japan's highest peak.

Today, it attracts millions of visitors each year, but Japanese pilgrims have been making the journey here to pay homage to this volcanic mountain for millennia.

In Japan's traditional Shinto religion, Mt.

Fuji was once worshiped as a fiery volcanic god.

Senjen Jinja shrine was erected at the base of the mountain in 1615 as a site of reverence.

Today it serves as both a place of worship, and a launching pad for those setting out on the long trek to the summit in the hope of catching the break of dawn in this, the land of the rising sun.

(dramatic music) Australia is more than an island nation.

It forms the heart of the world's oldest, driest, and flattest inhabited continent.

It's blessed with some of the world's most unique plants and animals and home to vibrant cultures both ancient and emerging.

Australia's mainland spans more than seven and a half million square kilometers.

It's fringed by lush tropical rainforests, monsoonal floodplains, and glistening white beaches.

But at its center lies a desolate wasteland defined by sprawling semi-arid grasslands and scorched desert sands.

Despite its vast expanse, the majority of Australia's 25 million inhabitants live within 150 kilometers of the east coast, drawn to modern cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane but also thriving coastal townships and fertile rural regions.

As far as nations go, Australia is relatively young.

It was established as a commonwealth nation little more than 100 years ago following the federation of its independent colonies in 1901.

But this land was settled long before the coming of Western culture.

It's thought that Australian Aborigines have been living here for between 40,000 and 70,000 years, making them one of the oldest surviving cultures on Earth.

Dutch and French seafarers first documented the great southern land in the early 1600s.

But it was the British explorer Captain James Cook who, in 1770, first mapped the east coast before returning to England to recommend the region be settled.

In 1788, the first fleet of British naval vessels arrived at Botany Bay to establish the first European colony on the Australian mainland.

While this was the dawning of a new age for Australia, it was a turning point for the original inhabitants of the continent.

Over the following century, the introduction of foreign diseases and conflict with settlers had a devastating impact upon local communities, many of which did not survive.

In recent years, steps have been taken to mend old wounds and to bridge the divide between the modern nation and its original people.

Man: As prime minister of Australia, I am sorry.

On behalf of the government of Australia, I am sorry.

On behalf of the parliament of Australia, I am sorry.

[Narrator] From its humble beginnings as a remote penal colony, Sydney has flourished into a truly global city of around five million residents.

At its heart is the world's largest natural harbor, and crowning it, two of the 20th century's greatest architectural icons, the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, famous not only for their grandeur and cutting-edge design, but as the centerpiece for one of the world's most spectacular New Year's Eve celebrations.

Sydney may be the economic and cultural capital of Australia, but it's not the center of federal politics.

That mantle goes to a nearby southern neighbor.

Canberra is locally known as the bush capital.

Four hours' drive south of Sydney, this is the island nation's political heart.

Dominating the lake city's skyline, New Parliament House was opened in 1988 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of European settlement in Australia.

Today, it's home to both the governing and legislative branches of the federal government.

Australia was built on the back of its livestock industry, but more recently, its economy has greatly benefited from the export of the nation's natural resources, which its arid heartland has in abundance.

But valuable minerals aren't the only natural treasures to be found out here.

Although the continent's desolate interior appears barren and lifeless, it supports a diverse range of flora and fauna, much of which can be found nowhere else.

The harsh conditions here have shaped local wildlife in remarkable ways.

There are more reptiles here than anywhere else on the planet, including some of the world's deadliest snakes.

Perhaps surprisingly, mammals are also present here in large numbers.

The red kangaroo is supremely adapted to life in the desert.

Its unique form of locomotion allows it to travel vast distances in search of food without using up valuable energy.

In fact, these creatures expend less energy at speeds of up to 25 kilometers an hour than they do while grazing, the secret to their success.

Far from the nation's arid interior, the warm tropical water of Australia's northeastern coast is home to the world's largest living structure.

The Great Barrier Reef spans more than 2,000 kilometers within the Coral Sea, providing sustenance and refuge to a staggering array of marine life.

Both revered and protected, it's become an enduring symbol of Australia's natural heritage, taking pride of place amongst this proud island nation's many unique treasures.

(dramatic music) Straddling the equator, off the southern fringes of the Malay peninsula, lies an island with a unique claim to fame.

The Republic of Singapore is both island nation and sovereign city state.

The nation's territory is made up of one main island, known as mainland Singapore, and 62 smaller islets scattered throughout the South China Sea between Malaysian and Indonesian waters.

Although it's slightly smaller than New York, the main island is home to around five and a half million people, making Singapore the second most densely populated nation in the world.

More than half of the people residing here are foreign nationals, drawn to the city's economic potential and high living standards.

To make room for this influx, over the last 50 years, nearly a quarter of the island's landmass has been reclaimed from the sea opening the way for expansion and allowing this rapidly advancing island nation to maintain its meteoric rise on the global stage.

Although these islands have been periodically inhabited for around 2,000 years, modern Singapore was established by the British in the early 19th century.

Its founder, Sir Stamford Raffles, envisioned lucrative agricultural exports, driven by the building of a strategic sea port.

By the end of the century, the island had become a global center of trade in rubber.

Today, Singapore's economy is recognized as one of the freest, most competitive, and dynamic in the international market.

It's driven by global finance, commerce, and transport industries, including the world's third largest foreign exchange and the world's busiest transshipment port.

Each year, 20% of the world's shipping containers, and half of the global crude oil supply, passes through the port of Singapore on its way to over 600 international destinations.

The port has come a long way, considering it was almost completely destroyed by occupying imperial Japanese forces during the Second World War.

At the time, Singapore harbor boasted one of the finest naval bases in the British empire, but it was a base without a fleet.

The majority of British vessels were preoccupied with the war in Europe, and without them, the invading Japanese pulled of a stunning victory in a conflict known as the battle of Singapore.

Upon hearing of the surrender of 60,000 British troops, Winston Churchill called the defeat the worst disaster and capitulation in British history.

Although British forces quickly reclaimed Singapore following the war, without an operational port, food prices skyrocketed, and the nation began to starve.

But as the global demand for rubber steadily increased in the post-war years, Singapore's economy started the slow road to recovery.

Today, the island nation's economy is soaring, bringing with it a raft of social benefits.

The nation's education, healthcare, and home ownership rank amongst the best in the world.

But it's not all good news for residents.

Singapore is also one of the world's most expensive nations in which to live and, for that matter, to visit.

But that doesn't stop the hordes of travelers that descend upon the island every year, endlessly drawn to its opulence... be it the world-class hotels and attractions or the non-stop shopping from vibrant street markets to high-end malls.

Singapore loves to flaunt its affluence.

But life here hasn't always been so easy.

Not so long ago, Singapore was classed as a developing nation.

It didn't reach first world status until 1967 and it did so on its own terms.

Following the calamity of the Second World War, Singapore broke free of its British colonial chains in 1963 by merging with Malaysia, or Malaya, as it was then known, but this alliance was short-lived.

It wasn't long before economic and political differences between the parties resulted in Singapore's expulsion from the federation of Malaya.

The Republic of Singapore finally gained independence in 1965.

The economic reforms of the fledgling nation's first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, shaped Singapore's policies for the next 50 years, leading to the rapid development of the integral industries that support the nation today.

By viewing the world as its hinterland, the small island nation of Singapore managed to overcome the limitations of its humble geological stature.

Its reach stretches far beyond the region it inhabits, touching all corners of the globe while at the same time beckoning the world to visit its own shores as it continues its journey towards a bright future.

The world's greatest island nations are as diverse as they are independent.

Separated from continents by the forces of nature, they've been unified by common ideologies and goals.

Some forged from the fires of necessity, others by the simple desire to be free.

As integral players on this big, blue planet of ours, they may be isolated, but they are not alone.

(dramatic music)